Taos Ski Valley is located two and one half hours from Albuquerque airport and 20 miles from the Taos Airport. Just 18 miles outside historic Taos, N.M., a village composed of traditional adobe buildings provides the only break in hundreds of square miles of arid mesa land.

Taos is one of the world's most unique and picturesque ski resorts. It is a place where one can escape into the ancient cultures of the Southwest or explore the side of a vast mountain that has been opened up for skiing but not tamed.

Taos combines the warm ambiance of a small European-style village nestled at the base of a great mountain, a superb ski school and an ambiance founded on the classic pleasures of alpine skiing.

Located in the southern Rocky Mountains of New Mexico, at the same latitude as northern Africa, Taos blends its high elevation and arid desert climate to provide skiers with the perfect conditions; light dry snow and bright sunshine.

It has been called a skier's mountain, and rightly so. From the famed steeps to gentle bowls, Taos' terrain appeals to the super-expert and the beginner alike. With a peak elevation of 11,819 feet, a base of 9,207 feet and 1,294 acres of ski trails, Taos offers varied and challenging terrain to delight skiers of all abilities.

One of Taos' most enduring ski traditions is the steep skiing off The Ridge. This requires a hike of anywhere from 10 minutes to one hour to get to these "extreme, double-diamond" runs. The reward is the best "steep and deep" skiing in America and a chance to experience off piste skiing in a relatively safe environment.

If you really want your child to learn to ski, Taos is the place to make it happen. The Children's Program instructors specialize in turning kids into confident skiers who develop a lifelong love for the sport.

While many resorts have traded in their personality for large-scale development, Taos has preserved its soul. Ernie's son, Mickey, and the rest of the Blake family are committed to maintaining the character of Taos.